Feds: Inconsistency “Not Inconsistent”

John Howard is backing American defence giant, Boeing, in its bid to dud Australian tradesmen of thousands of dollars.

The Prime Minister waded into the 10 week lockout in Parliament, this week, backing Boeing's "right" to force 31 Williamstown workers onto individual contracts that pay around $12,000 a year less than union-negotiated agreements at similar operations.

Howard told Parliament Boeing was within its rights to reject the demand of technicians who service Australia's fighter jets for a collective agreement.

"They are, on my advice, entitled to return to work at any time," Howard said.

A spokesman for Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, said Mr Howard's endorsement of Boeing's refusal to negotiate a collective agreement was "not inconsistent" with government promise to "preserve the right of workers to have a union negotiate a collective agreement if they wish".

AWU secretary, Bill Shorten, said the Prime Minister's stance undermined all the assurances his government was giving about its radical IR agenda.

"Our members have clearly demonstrated they want the right to a collective agreement, rather than being forced to stay on unfair and discriminatory individual contracts," Shorten said.

Howard's stance also leant weight to union accusations he was actively supporting Boeing in the dispute.

Last week, the AWU, said the government had waived significant financial penalties Boeing was liable to for failing to deliver under the terms of its contract.

Boeing's individual contracts contain a 43-hour week, no allowances, and no overtime rates with the effect, the AWU says, of technicians being at least $12,000 a year worse off than those on union-negotiated agreements.

Individual contracts, that undermine collective wages and conditions, are at the heart of sweeping workplace changes planned by the Howard Government.